Dr. Kathy Stolfer, associate professor of nursing at Waynesburg University, will offer a podium presentation based on her scholarly paper at the University of Kentucky’s 13th Annual Nursing Faculty Development Workshop.

The paper was accepted for presentation at the workshop, which will be held May 11 and 12, after Stolfer submitted an abstract of the paper in October 2016.

“The event will provide networking opportunities with nursing scholars throughout the nation,” said Stolfer. “The newly gleaned information will be shared with faculty peers and students to enhance student engagement.”

Titled “Active Student Learning in the Psych Clinical Setting: The Nursing Education Group,” Stolfer’s paper details an activity for nursing students during their psych clinical experience. She explains how an instructor can guide a Nursing Education Group to research and discuss topics related to clinical psychology work. As psych clinical work can be an uncomfortable experience for students, the Nursing Education Group can help them to become more self-confident and comfortable in a clinical setting.

Stolfer also presented a scholarly paper at the University of Kentucky Annual Nursing Faculty Development Workshop in May 2015. She believes academic work and presentations are essential to her role as a Waynesburg faculty member and Certified Nurse Educator.

“As I tell my students on the first day of class, nursing is a wonderful way to do God’s work,” said Stolfer. “Not only is caring for others essential, but wisdom and knowledge also is important to foster the students’ professional growth.”

Founded in 1849 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Waynesburg University is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with three additional sites located in the Pittsburgh region. The University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and is one of only 21 Bonner Scholar schools in the country, offering local, regional and international opportunities to touch the lives of others through service.

Four professors from Waynesburg University’s Department of Nursing recently presented poster sessions at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2015 Baccalaureate Education Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Deborah Lewis, assistant professor of nursing and director of the RN/MSN Program, and Coleen Cardamone, instructor of nursing, presented an electronic poster entitled “Evaluation of Practice Experience in an RN to BSN Program.” The presentation focused on the assessment and evaluation of practice experience in the Waynesburg RN to BSN program.

“We received positive feedback from many participants who were interested in our practice experience process and evaluation,” said Lewis. “Additionally, Coleen and I attended sessions about teaching and learning directly related to RN to BSN students.”

Dr. Sara Clutter, associate professor of nursing, and Dr. Teresa Small, professor of nursing, presented “Four Generations in the Classroom” during the opening session. Their objectives were to identify two challenges for professors when teaching four generations in one classroom, identify two challenges for students from different generations and plan two teaching strategies of interventions to facilitate learning by students in at least two different generations.

In addition to approximately 48 poster presentations, the conference featured four keynote speakers, eight concurrent sessions and a total of nine abstract sessions from which participants could choose to attend.

“Overall, we all found the conference to be very beneficial,” said Small. “We look forward to sharing the information gained with our peers in the Department of Nursing.”

Waynesburg’s nursing program has established itself as a premier nursing program throughout the region, and with the recent addition of the modern, state-of-the art simulation lab, students in the program receive unmatched learning opportunities.

Founded in 1849 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Waynesburg University is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with three additional sites located in the Pittsburgh region. The University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and is one of only 21 Bonner Scholar schools in the country, offering local, regional and international opportunities to touch the lives of others through service.

Dr. Deborah Lewis, director of the RN to BSN Program at Waynesburg University, was selected to present at the 6th Annual Best Practice in Nursing Education Conference March 21, 2014 at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Her abstract, “You want me to do what? Practice Experience in an RN to BSN program,” outlines the ways in which Waynesburg University’s RN to BSN Program provides practice experience and “allows theory to inform students’ practice and their practice to inform theory with the use of adult learning principles in the classroom.”

Lewis submitted her abstract to share with other local educators and nurses the process of practice experience in Waynesburg's RN to BSN Program.

“The students have a required one credit of service learning,” she said. “I think this, along with their other experiences such as the Intro to the New Testament course, gives students the background for looking at their professional and personal life in a different way.”

Sponsored by the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing and Pennsylvania League for Nursing Area VI, the conference aims to bring together nursing educators from across the region to discuss best practices.

Lewis’s presentation will include the learning objectives, method of instruction and content covered in her poster.

Waynesburg University's RN to BSN Program is designed specifically to meet the needs of working RNs who are motivated to meet personal educational goals and want to enhance their career options. The Program is structured in a user-friendly format that allows adult students to balance work and family responsibilities with school-related efforts.